Starting out

[Rockmusician]

There is nothing wrong with using a pick. Many well know bass players use them exclusively. It is a good idea to work on finger style as well though. As far as learning new songs and techniques are concerned, you can take lessons, buy videos or books and keep doing what you have been doing. memeorize the fretboard and understand where each note is and where the octaves are. As your playing improves and you become more comfortable, work on learning the various scales. Listening to songs and using tablature. Be patient. It takes a long time to learn any instrument but you are on the right track. Good luck

 

[Bassplayer425]

Thank you all for your expertise, and no, I am not quite 21 yet, but I decided I'm going to put that on hold. I have another question, and I badly need advice. I have been playing viola in the Philharmonic Orchestra at my High School since the beginning of this year, and recently I talked to my orchestra teacher. He is behind this 150%, and so I'm going to switch from viola to upright acoustic bass. I don't know how to play notes or anything on bass. I know how to read notes on viola, and I've been playing for a good while. So, he said I could start Monday, basically get my feet wet, get used to being a bassist. Should I at least learn some notes before Monday, so I can at least play somewhat? Or what should I do? I really want to start bass as soon as possible, and I am going to get bass lessons. So I would be elated if people reply to this and give me the best information they can conjure up if they so please.

 

[basstotheface]

Thank you all for your expertise, and no, I am not quite 21 yet, but I decided I'm going to put that on hold. I have another question, and I badly need advice. I have been playing viola in the Philharmonic Orchestra at my High School since the beginning of this year, and recently I talked to my orchestra teacher. He is behind this 150%, and so I'm going to switch from viola to upright acoustic bass. I don't know how to play notes or anything on bass. I know how to read notes on viola, and I've been playing for a good while. So, he said I could start Monday, basically get my feet wet, get used to being a bassist. Should I at least learn some notes before Monday, so I can at least play somewhat? Or what should I do? I really want to start bass as soon as possible, and I am going to get bass lessons. So I would be elated if people reply to this and give me the best information they can conjure up if they so please.

I'd suggest the DB side but you might not get fast replies so I'll try my best as a bull fiddler to help.

First thing I would do is get a good teacher.

Learn your board! plenty of diagrams on the interwebs.

Next, start working on intonation, obviously being a viola player you know intonation is probably the most important skill to have. Play a note on a piano, your computer, viola and match that note exactly on your bass. If you want to you could use a tuner and just try to match the note with that.

Next as a DBer you have to be able to tune your instrument by yourself, using harmonics or whatever you want, it's such an essential skill to have.

In an orchestra you will probably playing with a bow, ask your teacher to spend a lot of time on arco.

Any further questions I'd be happy to answer, but I don't know how accurate they'd be, over on the DB side of talkbass there are a lot of good, really smart guys that are always willing to help out, as long as a whole sticky on "noob" information.